Anthony Gulluni speaks to students at Wilbraham & Monson Academy

WILBRAHAM – Anthony Gulluni, who won the Democratic primary for Hampden County District Attorney Sept. 9 and is running unopposed on the Nov. 4 state election ballot, spoke to students at his alma mater Thursday afternoon – Wilbraham & Monson Academy.

Gulluni, 33, who said he spent his entire campaign for District Attorney being told he was young, said that after spending a day at the Academy, “Now I feel old again. It’s great to be here.”

“Some of my best friends came from this place,” Gulluni said.

Gulluni said that as District Attorney he plans to do a lot of community outreach and work with students in the Springfield public schools and other schools in Hampden County.

“One of my greatest challenges is that crime is being committed by younger and younger people,” Gulluni said. He told students that all young people do not have the family support and community support that students at Wilbraham & Monson Academy have.

Gulluni said that Thursday was his first time back at the Academy since he graduated in 1999.

“It smells the same and it looks the same, although there are a lot of younger faces,” he said.

Gulluni said he was pleased to see some of the improvements at the Academy, but he said one of the great things about Wilbraham & Monson Academy is that “Things haven’t changed.”

“This is a family,” he said.

As District Attorney for 23 cities and towns in Hampden County, Gulluni said he plans to focus on “long-term crime prevention and solutions.”

He said he hopes a Youth Advisory Board consisting of high school students will be his eyes and ears into the community.

“I want to get into the schools and be proactive,” Gulluni said.
Gulluni, who attended Western New England University, was asked when he decided to be a lawyer.
He said his sister, who is 11 years older than him and was already into her legal career encouraged him because he had strong reading and writing skills.

He called himself a mediocre athlete and student in high school.

“As an adult,” he said, “all your successes are hard earned.”

Gulluni said he never fathomed running for District Attorney when he was younger.